Click Here for Additional Resources
Search for Child Day Care
|Return to Search Results | New Search |

Natural Steps Child Development Center
64 Toby Way
Palmyra, VA 22963
(434) 589-5891

Current Inspector: Kelly Adriazola (804) 840-8245

Inspection Date: Oct. 19, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:
22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION.
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.

Comments:
This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia.
A unannounced non-mandated inspection was initiated on October 19, 2020 and concluded on November 06, 2020. A self-reported incident was received by the department regarding allegations in the areas of sight and sound supervision.
The supervisor was contacted by phone to conduct the investigation. The inspector emailed the supervisor a list of documentation required to complete the investigation. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the self-report of noncompliance with standards or law and violations were issued.
Please complete the "plan of correction" and "date to be corrected" for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to me within 10 calendar days from today. You will need to specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Just writing the word "corrected" is not acceptable. Your plan of correction must contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again, and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s).
Any violations not related to the self-report but identified during the course of the investigation can be found on the violation notice.

Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-40-E
Description: Based on a review of the center's policies and procedures, and interviews with staff, there were center policies and procedures for supervision of children which were not followed on 10/16/2020.

Evidence:
1. The Employee Handbook regarding "Supervision of Children" stated "Count all children as you exit and enter a new space in or outside of the building." The Playground Safety Plan stated "All children should be accounted for when joining the playground and reentering the building."
2. Staff C and Staff D verified that a head count was not completed and all children were not accounted for when the children exited the playground on 10/16/2020.

Plan of Correction: Our playground safety and supervision guidelines were reviewed at our November staff meeting and will be reviewed again at the December staff meeting.
a. teachers are to count students when coming in from the playground
b. teachers are to count students again once in the classroom to confirm everyone is accounted for
c. teachers complete a "name-to-face" on the Procare Connect app when transitioning anywhere in or outside of the building.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-A
Description: Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure care, protection, and guidance of children at all times.

Evidence:
1. On 10/16/2020, a two year old was out of sight and sound supervision for approximately three minutes on the playground. There were twelve children, ages two to three years of age, on the playground and two staff members. Staff C and D stated that it began to rain and they rushed the children inside. Staff A stated that she heard Child #1 crying on the playground and noticed that there were no teachers or children outside.
2. Staff A and B verified that there was no other staff on the playground with Child #1.

Plan of Correction: A "side playground" group has been created in the Procare app to account for any combining of same age pods on the playground. This allows the teachers that come in as relief to know exactly which children, from which class are on the playground and need to be accounted for.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-F
Description: Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age were kept within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.

Evidence:
1. On 10/16/2020, a two year old child was out of sight and sound for approximately 3 minutes. There were twelve children, ages two to three years of age, on the playground with two staff members. Staff C and D stated that it began to rain and they rushed the children inside. Staff A stated that she heard Child #1 crying on the playground and noticed that there were no teachers or children outside.
2. Staff A and B verified that there was no other staff on the playground with Child #1.

Plan of Correction: The director will do spot checks to ensure protocols are being followed on a regular basis. Staff members will receive one verbal warning if observed not following established protocols. That will be followed by a write up if it is still apparent that staff members are not counting and using the name-to-face feature to ensure sight and sound supervision, care, and protection, and the following of our school standards.

Disclaimer:

A compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility.

The online compliance history includes only information after July 1, 2003. In addition, the online compliance history includes information regarding adverse actions that may be the subject of a pending appeal. An adverse action is not final until a provider has exhausted or waived all due process rights. For compliance history prior to July 1, 2003, or information regarding the status of pending adverse actions, please contact the Licensing Inspector listed in the facility's information. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is not responsible for any errors in or omissions from the compliance history information.

Virginia Quality is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education facilities serving children ages birth through pre-K. To find programs participating in Virginia Quality, click here.

Google Translate Logo
×
TTY/TTD

(deaf or hard-of-hearing):

(800) 828-1120, or 711

Top